His Muscadet might be more popular but it is no reason to neglect Serge Batard Domaine Les Hautes Noelles Gamay.
I just bought a bottle of the 2007 Vintage (100% Gamay grapes) and it was perfect for hot muggy weather.
Not too high in alcohol (12%), great fruit, a lighter red for hot summer days.
Serge Batard calls it a ‘vin de la soif’ (a wine for thirsty people) displaying red fruits and black cherries.
Smith and Vine (Brooklyn, New York) suggest you "take a chance and chill this down like you were in the French countryside".
On his (French Only) website, Mr Batard writes that "each vintage is a challenge, it takes a lifetime to master wine...".
He does not use chemical fertilizers or weed killers.
The fact sheet tells us: "This Gamay is grown in the Coteaux d’Herbauges
vineyard lying on the northern shores of the Lac de Grand-Lieu. These
vineyards benefit from their southwesterly exposure and their proximity
to the lake, factors that allow for great ripeness in the vineyards".
You can pay a visit to the property (the cellar) located in the small town of Saint-Léger-les-Vignes (near Nantes) on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check the site for hours and contact info.
Enough said, find this Gamay and drink it.
A steal at around $12, good for the Consumed to Thrifty.
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